A CHURCH playgroup in Murdishaw may be forced to close because of constant vandalism and intimidation by groups of teenagers.

And police in Runcorn have been accused of ignoring calls for help, saying they are too busy to respond.

The indictment comes from secretary Claire East and playgroup supervisor Dot Richardson, who both claim they are sick and tired of the negative response they have had from the Cheshire Constabulary.

The playgroup, which meets every morning in Murdishaw Church in Ridgeway, may be forced to close because of the lack of funds caused, they say, by local mums staying away with their children because of the constant damage to the church.

Claire said: 'It looks like Beirut around here every morning when we come with the broken glass, the smashed windows, the rubbish and the smell of urine and worse. The playgroup has been held in this church for 21 years and in the past four years the situation has become ridiculous.

'The appalling state of the place every morning when Dot and I arrive has to be seen to be believed, and we spend a lot of time cleaning up the best we can before the children turn up.

'It's crazy that we have places here for another 16 kids but can't get them because of the conditions, while another playgroup nearby has a waiting list. We want something doing about sorting these people out and making this building safe.'

And Dot, who has been attending the church and playgroup since it opened in 1980, added: 'We have come around here at night and found gangs of teenagers outside urinating up the doorway and selling drugs, then they turn round and give a load of verbal abuse to us, even threatening to kill my dogs!

'I've phoned Runcorn police on numerous occasions over the years and every time they just say they are too busy to turn up straight away.

'I was even in here on my own one night with my dogs and there was a large group of teenagers outside who were shouting and swearing, and threatening what they would do to us. I phoned the police asking for help only to be told they were too busy right now and could I wait a couple of hours. I can't believe they are always too busy to respond to us here.

Maybe if this church was in Daresbury or anywhere posh they would be out like a shot, unless, of course, they were too busy booking motorists on the expressway, which normally takes at least three of them!

'I know I sound bitter, but this vandalism has cost us hundreds and hundreds of pounds, and the scum who do this have no respect for anything or anyone.

To attack a church is diabolical, and we have had practically everything stolen in the past four years, and certainly had every single window smashed.

'The local pub, the Jolly Brewer, donated #315 towards redecorating, but we can't go on constantly replacing smashed windows and doors and cleaning up broken glass. Something is done to stop these attacks we will definitely have to close.'

A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said: 'We have great concern that Murdishaw Playgroup feels let down by ourselves and we are looking at our records to see when incidents were reported to us and what action, if any, was taken.

'It could be that there has been a breakdown in communications, but we will be in touch with the playgroup so we can sit down face-to-face with them to sort out this problem to their satisfaction.'